Framing of charges adjourned, again

The framing of charges in the 'cash at judge's door' case in which former high court judge Nirmal Yadav is an accused were deferred once again on Thursday, in wake of Yadav's appeal pending in Supreme Court. The case will now be heard on January 18.

However, before adjourning the case, the court asked why section 294 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) should not invoked for expediting the case. Under this section, the accused is given a chance to deny or accept the documents presented by the prosecution in the case.

Special public prosecutor Anupam Gupta, however, opposed this, saying: "This is a way to expedite the trial. I feel ethically compromised and would never avail such a provision."

The defence counsel, Vishal Garg Narwana, submitted: "The accused has the right to stay mum at this stage. But, we will still go through the provision again and assist the court."

Meanwhile, justice Yadav on Thursday moved an application to adjourn the framing of charges, saying that she has filed an appeal before the Supreme Court, challenging the CBI court's order on July 31 in which the court had ordered the framing of charges against her. The appeal was filed before the SC on December 9 and is yet to come up for hearing.

Section 294 of CrPCUnder section 294 of CrPC, the particulars of any document filed before any court by the prosecution or accused is included in a list. The prosecution or the accused, as the case may be, or the pleader for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document.

Court allows Delhi hotelier to go abroadThe court on Thursday allowed Delhi-based hotelier Ravinder Singh, one of the accused in the case, to go to China and Thailand from December 15 to December 31. He is going on a business trip.

Case fileThe case had made headlines after Rs 15 lakh were delivered wrongly at the residence of justice Nirmaljit Kaur, another judge of the high court, on August 13, 2008, following which she reported the matter to police. Investigations, later handed over to the CBI, revealed that the money was meant for justice Nirmal Yadav.